Former Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Hafeez has voiced his reservations regarding the decision-making process surrounding the captaincy of the national cricket team, particularly highlighting the reinstatement of Babar Azam as the white-ball captain following a brief hiatus.

In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Hafeez expressed his concerns, questioning the logic behind removing Babar Azam from captaincy only to reinstate him shortly after. He criticized such decisions, d

"If the decision was made to replace Babar with another captain, then what transpired in two months to warrant his return? I believe such decisions, made for popularity's sake, are detrimental rather than beneficial. Consequently, factions have emerged within the team due to this, which is unfortunate," Hafeez remarked.

While acknowledging the potential for improvement if Babar learns from past errors and exhibits better decision-making, Hafeez cast doubt on the selection process for the upcoming series against New Zealand.

"I concede that if Babar has learned from his mistakes and demonstrates improved decision-making, things may improve. However, the selection for this [New Zealand] series raises concerns that the same flawed process is being repeated. For a weakened New Zealand side, with 12 to 13 key players unavailable, we've summoned almost every player who was idle at home to represent Pakistan. This, in my view, reflects poor decision-making for this series," he elaborated.

It's noteworthy that Pakistan is set to compete in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, commencing on April 18. This series holds significance for both teams as they aim to fine-tune their squads and finalize player selections for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, slated to be held in the USA and the West Indies.